✶"..𝓖𝓸𝓭 𝓓𝓪𝓶𝓶𝓲𝓽..!"✶ (ᴬᵗˢᵘˢʰⁱ ˣ ᴬᵏᵘᵗᵃᵍᵃʷᵃ)

Chapter One: -A Sleepless Night-

Atsushi had been fumbling around in his closet for about three hours, not being able to simply doze off like he usually does. 'What is going on with me today?', He thought, mumbling in frustration.

It wasn't as if anything special was on his mind- and nothing really exceptional happened today, either. He couldn't sleep no matter what side her slept on, and out of pure annoyance, he sat up.

His forehead banged against the shelf of the closet, startling both him, and probably also waking Kyoka. 'Just great. Now I'm dragging poor Kyoka-chan into this, too. How could I've even forgotten that there was a shelf there..!?' He pondered, before being frightened and blinded by Kyoka opening the closet door. The city lights of Yokohama poured into his little closet, a magnificent sight. Colors brightly danced in the small nook of darkness, both mesmerizing him and distracting him from his thoughts.

"What's wrong, Atsushi-kun? I mean- I've heard you shuffling around in there for hours. Is something wrong? Don't tell me you didn't sleep at all. Did someone threaten you? Should I find and slice their neck membrane? Or the brain stem?-" Kyoka inquired about him, her right hand grasped firmly on the handle of her sword. She'd tied up her hair in record time, though her eyes showed sign of drowsiness. She spoke in that usual, cool tone- and it calmed Atsushi. Though not much.

Atsushi rubbed his collarbone with his left hand, the other one supporting his weight on the closet door. "No, Kyoka-chan. I'm fine, trust me. I'm just a bit.. lost in thought, let's say." He said, beads of sweat forming on his face at her aggression. He awkwardly smiled as he spoke.

Kyoka's brows furrowed in concern, as she held eye-contact with Atsushi, before she sighed. "If you say so." She muttered, before crawling back into her futon.

'Maybe I should go for a walk- that'll help me clear up my mind.' "Actually, Kyoka-chan- I think I'll go for a quick stroll, to clear up my mind." Atsushi mumbles, and Kyoka turns to look at him. "Now..? Fine, but if you get into trouble, call me." Kyoka suggested.

Atsushi rushed to get something to wear, settling on some casual sweatpants and a light blue hoodie -which was two sizes too big for him- and lastly, he put on some white sneakers and rushed out the door, unbeknownst of where he was heading.

As he strolled the streets like a stray, he watched the dazzling constellations above. Mixed with the aurora-like lights of the city Ferris wheel, and all the lights bouncing off this Yokohama river, it was a majestic view. He walked around the town, visiting nostalgic sites such as the Ochazuke restaurant Kunikida fed him and the warehouse he solved his first case with Ranpo. 'I..I can't believe I've come this far...' He chuckled to himself as he walked, before bumping into an unknown stranger (Atsushi falling onto his butt). They reeked of blood, which worried Atsushi, before he glanced up. 'Ah shit.'

"Akutagawa..!" He whispers in frustration.

"I didn't realize foul animals wandered the streets at night.. I thought they'd all be fast asleep." The mafioso retorted, his face in a grim scowl- disgusted- almost if he was looking at a dead rat of sorts.

Atsushi stands up, brushing off his trousers with his hands. "Do we really have to argue every time we meet..?" The weretiger spoke with a pained expression, looking two centimeters higher to make eye-contact with Ryunosuke. "And also, some animals are nocturnal, you know..?"
Ryunosuke clicked his tongue, now admiring the city. "Didn't realize that would include filthy animals like you."

"If I'm an animal, then what are you..? Are you a blood-sucking vampire or something..?" Atsushi chuckled. "You're also awake." Ryunosuke furrowed his brows, facing the weretiger. "Say that one more time and I'll rip you to shreds."